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QUEEN SQUARE ALUMNUS ASSOCIATIONNEWSLETTER
Number 13
QUEEN SQUARE NEWS:
July 1997.
DEATHS: It with sadness that we record the death of DR.
ANTHONYHOPKINS, director of the research unit of the Royal College
ofPhysicians. He died after a collapse on March 6th 1997,
aged59.Although an eminent clinical neurologist, he went on to
enjoya second distinguished career as director of the research
unitof the Royal College of Physicians. Here he made a strongimpact
on improving the quality of health care.His approach was
groundbreaking. He involved colleagues around thecountry and worked
with their professional associations. Heskilfully facilitated joint
working between the differentdisciplines, bringing together
doctors, nurses, therapists,managers and others in an attempt to
overcome previousbarriers in inter-professional collaboration. This
was seenparticularly in work on the healthcare of older peopleand
patients who had suffered strokes. He pioneered theinvolvement of
patients in defining and developing highquality health care.
Borne in Poole, Dorset, Anthony was educated at Sherborne,and
went on to study at Guy's Hospital Medical School. Heproved an
outstanding student, both academically andsartorially, and he
qualified as a doctor in 1961.
He specialised in neurology at the National HospitalQueen Square
from 1964-72. There was a year at the MayoFoundation and, more
significantly, a year at theSalp~triere Hospital in Paris as a
Medical ResearchCouncil exchange scholar. There on St. Valentine's
Day,he met his future wife, who was then studying at theSorbonne.
They were married in 1965.
At an early age, he was appointed in 1972 a
consultantneurologist at St. Bartholomew's Hospital. He was
electedto the fellowship of the Royal College of Physicians in
1976and rose to become the physician in charge of the Departmentof
Neurological Sciences from 1976 to 1988.
Two themes emerged early in his research which were later toput
him far ahead of his time; he valued the views ofpatients on their
illnesses and their health care: and, hesaw the need for a broader
approach to improving medicalcare. His foremost characteristics
were his compassion,thoughtfulness and understanding. His flair for
gardening,which had been apparent from early childhood, was
perhapsreflected in his skill for bringing on people. He could
spottalent and was generous in his support, particularly when
hedetected a glint of enthusiasm and commitment. This stoodhim in
good stead in his second career.
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Unexpectedly, this began when he succeeded Sir Cyril Clarkeas
director of the research unit of the Royal Collegeof Physicians in
1988. Here he made his most lastingcontribution. Although academic
colleagues might havelooked askance at the unit which had neither
laboratories.staff, an academic career structure, nor patients
under itscare, Hopkins believed that he could attack the
perennialproblem that much medical research is not put into
practice.
An enduring memory for many people will be a working lunchin his
office overlooking Regent's Park or at his club - theGarrick. In
such gatherings , he would tactfully butincisively, cut through any
waffle to get to the heart ofthe matter. He had a particular
ability to link whatclinical colleagues were saying to him about
the healthservice with pOlicy matters at a national level.
Thisintellectual rigour was widely valued at the many keynational
committees of which he was a member.
Hopkins wrote prolifically. Among many influential textsare the
reports and books of his unit on the quality ofhealthcare. He was
particularly proud of his textbook.Clinical neurology: a modern
approach (1993). He was keenon information technology but not for
his writing - acomputer was never seen on his leather topped desk.
Likemany doctors, his handwriting was characteristic and
hisannotations of a manuscript would often wind right aroundthe
page - sometimes twice.There was an important international
dimension to Hopkins'work, also. He worked jointly with European
and Americanprofessional organisations. He was in demand as
aninternational speaker at conferences and had recentlyreturned
from Mauritius where he had been acting as aspecial adviser to the
World Health Organisation.
However he understood the balance between work andleisure. He
loved the sea and bought a 35ft yacht,Fluidity. He also liked
skiing, and practically everyyear his tall dark distinctive figure
would be seen swoopingdown the slopes, but always making courteous
way for any whocrossed his path.
He leaves his widow, Elizabeth Ann Wood, and three children.
CONFERMENT OF TITLES: The University of London hasconferred
titles on the following:
Dr. Niall QuinnDr.A.J.ThompsonDr. D.R.Fish
Dr.K.J.FristonDr. K.Bhatia
HONOURS AND AWARDS:
Professor of Clinical NeurologyReader in Clinical
NeurologyReader in Neurology & ClinicalNeurophysiologyReader in
Imaging NeuroscienceSenior Lecturer in Clinical Neurology
Professor C.D. Marsden delivered the Norman GeschwindMemorial
Lecture on 28th May 1997 in Boston and waspresented with the James
Parkinson Award by theParkinson's Disease Foundation of the U.S.A.
on 2nd June
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Professor Ian McDonald has been appointed theHarveian Librarian
at the Royal College of Physiciansfrom the 1st August 1997; he has
been awarded theJosef Wolf Senior Prize for research into
MultipleSclerosis; Professor Richard Frackowiak was awarded the1997
Feldberg Foundation Prize for Anglo-German ScientificExchange, and
the Fondacion Ipsen Prize for 1997;Dr. T. Revesz, Senior Lecturer
in Neuropatholgy, has beenaccorded the status of Honorary Senior
Lecturer in the Departmentof Neuroscience and Neuropathology at the
Institute ofPsychiatry from 1st April 1997; Professor C. J. Mathias
andDr. A. J. Thompson have been invited to become
correspondingmembers of the American Neurological Association.
OTHER NEWS:
SWITHIN MEADOWS LECTURE:
Professor W. Ian McDonald gave the Second Swithin
MeadowsMemorial Lecture, entitled "Physicians, Subsequence
andConsequence" at the Royal College of Physicians as part of
theEuropean Neuro-ophthalmology Society Meeting, on 28th
May1997.
ANITA HARDING MEMORIAL LECTURE:
The first Anita Harding Memorial Lecture was given on7th May
1997 by Professor Anne Young, Harvard Medical School,entitled
"Huntington's Disease and Related Triplet RepeatDisorders: a
tribute to Anita Harding. This was also theoccasion when the
portrait of Anita was formally dedicated; itis hung in the Gilliatt
Lecture Theatre.
ASSOCIATION OF BRITISH NEUROLOGISTS VISIT TO SYDNEY IN
JUNEAlthough it had not been possible to find a slot fora QSAA
reception, the ABN was received with great warmthby the Australians
and it was felt to be one of themost successful joint meetings that
the ABN hasenjoyed.
AMERICAN ACADEMY OF NEUROLOGY MEETING APRIL 1997 IN BOSTON
An Alumnus Reception was held during this meeting and wasa
convivial and well attended function.
NEUROSURGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA SATELLITE MEETING ATQUEEN
SQUARE 1st April 1997.
About 75 Neurosurgeons from the USA attended thisvery successful
meeting and it is hoped that as a result we maysee an increase in
membership of the QSAA from AmericanNeurosurgeons.
EUROPEAN NEUROLOGICAL SOCIETY MEETING IN RHODES JUNE 1997
Professor Milonas, Conference Chairman, arranged a dinnerfor
Queen Square Alumni during the Conference. This waswell attended
and enjoyed by all those present.
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WORLD CONGRESS OF NEUROLOGY MEETING IN BUENOS AIRESIN SEPTEMBER
1997.
You will already have received details of this meeting,but to
remind you about the arrangements for the QSAAReception the
following applies:
There will be an informal cocktail and social get togetherat
5.30 p.m. on Thursday September 18th at the Salon Aguilaon the 24th
floor of the Buenos Aires Sheraton Hotel. It willlast about one and
a half hours and is sponsored byParke Davis Laboratories. Dr.
Manuel Somoza is kindlyarranging this event, and it would be
helpful if you couldlet him know if you intend to be present. His
Fax numberis (54-1)802 9098, and E-Mail is
[email protected].
QSAA NEWS:
DEATHS: It is with sadness that we record the death ofDr. D.
Bennett shortly after he retired from the Universityof Nebraska
Medical Center in January 1996 •. He wasVisiting Professor at the
Institute, and is remembered withadmiration and affection.
OTHER NEWS:
Dr. Moon KeenMalaysia, theNeuroscience.October 1996;
Lee has been appointed Editor of NeuroscienceNewsletter of the
Malaysian Society ofThis appeared for the first time in
we wish her every success.
Dr.S.K.Das from Calcutta was awarded a one year Fellowshipin
Movement Disorders at the University of Calgary.
CHANGHUA CHRISTIAN HOSPITALWe have had considerable numbers of
Taiwanese postgraduatessent to us over the years from the above
hospitalthrough the good offices of Dr. David LandsboroughIt is
their Centennial Celebration this year and we wouldlike to offer
them our sincere congratulations.CERTIFICATE FOR MEMBERS OF THE
QSAA
This is now ready, and looks very attractive. Thecost, to
include postage and packing, is £10 and onlysterling or Euro
cheques can be accepted. If you wish topurchase a certificate,
which will be signed by thePresident and Chairman of the QSAA,
please write directto Mrs. Janet Townsend. Assistant Secretary for
Students,Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London, WC1N
3BG.Please make sure you state exactly how you wish your nameto
appear on the certificate, and whether you wish yourdegrees
included, and if so what they are.
I hope you all have a good summer. Please keep your newscoming
in for the Alumni News section of the Newsletter.
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mailto:[email protected].
